Susan Alveshere, Regional Director for Seattle's Fashion Group International recently helped launch élise Magazine, an international publication with a focus on luxury fashion and lifestyle. While striving to promote sustainability, élise features the latest trends in global fashion and the hottest new designers, as well as beautiful photography and intriguing articles. élise staff and contributors include award-winning and recognized writers, artists, and designers such as Emmy Award-nominated Lori Ann Robinson, luxury jeweler Nancy Grando, and couture designer and stylist Giuseppe Grazioli, who is also a member of Seattle's Fashion Group International. Check out the premier issue by clicking here.

I love shopping for accessories because they are so much fun and always fit, so needless to say I was ecstatic when I found out that Seattle handbag line Rocco E Dante recently launched a fabulous new collection of Italian leather "arm candy" bracelets and cuffs. They retail for $58 and right now, Rocco is offering FREE SHIPPING when you place an order on or before Mothers Day! These cuffs let you add a bit of rock and roll to any outfit and the gold hardware against the black leather looks so chic. Click here to shop.

Eco-friendly insiders are wild about LIV GRN, a unique lifestyle brand dedicated to perpetuating the health of our planet. LIV GRN merges style and comfort with sustainable materials to create a look that is both stylish, sophisticated and easy to wear.

LIV GRN garments are made in the U.S.A. using 100% organic cotton yarn and all elements of the garment including the labels, handbags and packaging are also made using recycled and organic materials.

The line is the brainchild of Larry Frazin, a music industry veteran, fashion industry insider Sydney Holland, and NBC news correspondent Maria Men0unos.

LIV GRN also donates 10% of profits to GLOBAL GREEN, an organization focused on fighting global climate change by creating green buildings and cities.The line has been featured in People StyleWatch, Life & Style, Women's Wear Daily and OK! Magazine. Celeb fans of the line include Cameron Diaz, Ellen Degeneres, Jessica Alba, Reese Witherspoon, and more. For a list of places to shop for LIV GRN click here.

SeattleFashions.com, a new video magazine site about the Seattle independent fashion industry has recently made it's debut. Produced by James Ritzman, the site lets viewers learn about local boutiques and designers plus watch videos of local runway shows. Check it out now by clicking here.

UK-based fast fashion and celebrity inspired shopping site Goddiva has everything you need to look and feel like a star. You can shop by celebrity or by category for everything from dresses, handbags, and shoes. Shopping is easy. You can simply pick a celeb (the list includes notables such as Heidi Klum and Jessica Alba) and Goddiva will select a piece that has the essence of the star's style but at a price you can afford.

Goddiva is currently looking for a Goddiva Girl and offering contestants a chance to win a new wardrobe valued at over 500 British pounds. To enter simply send a picture of yourself wearing a Goddiva purchase to jacqui@goddiva.co.uk and receive a 10% discount code to use on your next purchase. In the email you must include your name, phone number and a note saying that you give Goddiva permission to use your picture. The contest ends April 30, 2010.

Seattle-based organic clothing line SPUN isn’t just your average eco-friendly line. Designer Sara Seumae strives to give women quality organic clothing that meets three F’s: fit (it’s got to be a perfect fit), flatter (has to flatter a woman’s body) and fashionable (because who says you have to give up style to go sustainable?) Each piece is made in the United States using high quality 100% Certified Organic Cotton which is dyed using environmentally safe low–impact fiber reactive dyeing processes. SPUN shows women that organic clothing doesn’t have to be a luxury- it should be a choice. For a list of places that carry SPUN click here.

The Bellevue Goodwill store is hosting a two-day Designer Label Event featuring brands including Gucci, Prada, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Hermes, Christian Dior and Versace. The event includes apparel and accessories (including handbags and shoes) at affordable prices. Over 4,500 pieces await shoppers during the sale which will take place on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1st. “We have many generous donors in the community who give us amazing clothes and accessories. We’re hoping this sale will introduce a lot of people to Goodwill and show them they can find fashionable items at great prices. And, what they buy will support a great cause—helping people find work and support themselves and their families,” said Store Manager Gary Foy.

The store will be open from 9am-9:30pm on both days of the event. Goodwill staff will be re-stocking the shelves all day but insider sources say to shop early for the best selection!

This year marks the 3rd Annual Girls Gone Glam shopping event which is happening on Thursday, April 29th from 5-8pm at the Alexis Hotel. Event proceeds will benefit Seattle's Dress for Success program. Tickets are $15 and include exclusive shopping from Glam.spoon, Clementine, Sweet Anthem, The Finerie, Zavida Gemstones and Sweet Petula. Entry includes a raffle ticket (prizes include airline tickets courtesy of JetBlue), food, drinks and free valet parking. The beauty team from Swink Style Bar will also be on hand to perform updo's and blowouts.

It's always the same story, so much to do and yet, so little time, but don't let that stop you from checking out these great Seattle fashion events. There's literally something for everyone whether you're going green or looking for a makeover.

Lengthening the amount of time I spend in between blowouts is crucial when you have long hair like I do. That's why I love Portland-based Sidlab Hair Couture's dry shampoo Magic. The product is clear so it doesn't add any additional weight or texture to the hair and it instantly absorbs oil so your hair looks and feels refreshed. This is a great product to use when you don't have time for a traditional wash and blow dry. Magic comes in an aerosol can so it's perfectly portable plus it's paraben and sulfate-free. With this product I can do my hair in less than 5 minutes which is perfect for a "girl-on-the go" lifestyle. For more info on Sidlab Hair Couture products click here.

If you're looking for a stylish way to Go Green this month look no further than brand new, UK-based community CovertCandy. The site is the best of both worlds, a way to be Eco-friendly by swapping clothes with people from all over the world instead of letting them pile up in land fills and a way to be budget-friendly since you don't have to pay for the clothing you swap. Let's face it, fashion is a perpetual cycle so the clothes we no longer wear may be just exactly what someone else is looking for. CovertCandy provides a trading platform so you can swap clothes you don't want while earning credit that you can use to buy clothing and accessories from other users. The site is all about helping you locate people with similar tastes and building a network of friends to swap with.

In addition to being a thriving community for exchanging second-hand clothing and accessories, CovertCandy also sells unique and affordable vintage clothing from Paris. All vintage clothes within the shop are sourced from wholesalers across Paris and are selected for their quality and originality.

Join the CovertCandy community now and start swapping clothes for free today by clicking here. Or check out the latest CovertCandy news on their blog. This truly is guilt-free, risk-free and environmentally aware shopping just in time for Earth month!

These House of Harlow shoes are way too stylish to be taken lightly. We must find an occasion to wear these beautiful fish scale leather pumps available at Sway & Cake. They have padded insoles, a peep toe and gold accents. LOVE.

The countdown to the April 25th debut of the limited-edition Zac Posen Go International collection for Target continues and no one is more excited than I am! The regular Zac Posen Collection ranges in price from $900-20,000 so the Target line is a bit more realistic for the masses with prices ranging from $34.99 for a pair of pants to $74.99 for a brocade tie dress. With this new line Zac wanted to address a larger demographic and create a wardrobe that was suitable for giving women something to wear during the best summer of her life.

"This was an opportunity to build the image of a cool girl on the go," Posen told Women's Wear Daily. The collection will be available at Target stores nationwide and online at Target.com from April 25th through May 30th.

Future plans for Zac Posen include opening up his own stores when the time is fiscally responsible (reports indicate that Posen will break even this year) and working to build a fully vertical lifestyle brand. For more on the Zac Posen for Target Go International collection click here.

Seattle online boutique La Rousse is gearing up for their next pop-up shop at LIT which will take place April 29th through May 1st. A special launch party will be held on Thursday, April 29th from 5-8pm featuring great deals, light snacks and pretty spring cocktails. There will also be a special rack of vintage and clearance items.

What: La Rousse Pop-Up Shop at LIT

When: April 29th-May 1st

Where: LIT. 1906 Prospect St. E. Capitol Hill. (206) 818 4101

Start shopping the spring assortment online now and get 20% off through this weekend by entering in discount code NEWSPRING20 at check-out.

Just having a single trunk show isn't enough for Barney's Co-Op. Today the retailer will stage ten trunk shows simultaneously on the Co-Op floor of their Madison Ave. flagship store. Customers will have a chance to see limited edition items, preview and order fall goods and meet designers including Andrea Lieberman, Alexander Wang, Richard Chai, and more. Scheduled trunk shows include A.L.C., 3.1 Phillip Lim, Rag & Bone, Richard Chai-LOVE, Helmut Lang, Shipley & Halmos, Vena Cava, VPL and Wayne. Barneys is encouraging customers to get first dibs on Fall '10 looks by stopping by the Trunk-A-Palooza event. Designer personal appearances will take place from 5:00 p.m. onwards.

Label something "Limited Edition" and it flies off the shelves. (Because who isn't a sucker for limited edition merchandise?) That's the strategy being used by Fashion's Night Out who is offering retailers in the U.S. and Canada a full collection of merchandise to help build a major buzz around the shopping event taking place on September 10th. Merchandise includes t-shirts, tank tops and hoodies and retailers can place orders between now and April 30th to guarantee an August delivery by emailing fnocollection@fashionsnightout.com. Retailers don't have to participate in the event to sell the collection, plus 40% of the proceeds from the collection will benefit the NYC Aids Fund.

Fashion's Night Out was started in 2009 to help generate retail traffic and more than 800 stores in New York participated. According to an independent study by ShopperTrack, foot traffic in stores during the last Fashion's Night Out jumped by 50%. Fashion's Night Out has now become a global initiative to celebrate fashion, boost consumer confidence and generate excitement for the fashion industry. In the U.S., Fashion's Night out is a collaboration between the Council of Fashion Designers of America, NYC & Co., the City of New York and Vogue.

Don't forget to check out the CBS Fashion's Night Out Documentary which will air on September 15th at 8pm.

Totokaelo also has new arrivals by Rachel Comey, All for the Mountain Jewelry, APC Madras, Rick Owens and more.

And finally in Totokaelo news- the new website will launch next week! Owner Jill spent the past 6+ months working on it herself and it's almost finished! The new site will have larger images, a viewing window, a simple search and better navigation.

During last month's Miami International Fashion Week, Indian designer Michelle Salins made her US debut. “I am thrilled to have been chosen to represent India,” says Michelle. The theme of the collection was 'The Jewel Tones of India' and included 22 total looks.

“I love luxurious bling, so my designs contain that element. The embellishments I've incorporated include Swarovski and Czech crystals, sequins and beads, and the popular Indian hand zardosi work,” says Michelle. The collection featured a vivid color story that featured fuchsia, amethyst purple, sapphire & turquoise blue, gold and silver.

Michelle was born in Hyderabad, India and her love of fashion began as a child when she would dress up her dolls. Later she began mixing and matching clothes using clippings from fashion magazines as inspiration. Michelle went on to attend a design school in Mumbai where she received the ‘Best Designer of the Year’ award with a special award for her color implementation. After graduating, Michelle started her own Interior Design firm ‘Salins Designs’ and went on to launch her own fashion line in 2006.

Seattle's favorite neighborhood boutique, Queen Anne Dispatch, is holding it's Friends & Family Event on May 7th from 6-9pm featuring 20% off all purchases, light bites and drinks, and music from a live DJ. Come shop for all your spring must-haves from brands including BB Dakota, French Connection, MOR Cosmetics and more! Mark your calendars now!

Calling all designers! Casting for Season 2 of Bravo's "The Fashion Show", hosted by Isaac Mizrahi is coming to Seattle on April 24th. The Fashion Show will give designers a once in a lifetime opportunity to have their work seen by icons of the fashion industry…and viewers around the world. In order to apply for the show, you must be 21 years of age or older. You can be a fashion school grad or you can be self-taught; you can specialize in haute couture or streetwear. What matters most is that you have a creative vision for your designs and the technical skills (sewing, sketching, etc.) to back up that vision. The winner of the competition will receive a cash prize.

What: Open Call for Bravo Season 2 Casting "The Fashion Show"When: Saturday April 24th from 10am-5pm

What to Bring: Your portfolio, three articles of clothing that they have created and which best showcase their designs, a current resume, one piece of government-issued photo ID, a non-returnable photo of themselves, and a completed application form. To download an application form go to www.BravoTV.com/casting. You must bring your completed application and all other supporting materials to the casting call.

Seattle-based Little Miss Grippy has given girls everywhere something to smile about. A pair of tights that is not only adorable but functional too! The entire line of Little Miss Grippy products has added traction to keep little girls who are on-the-go from losing their footing. What really sets Miss Grippy tights apart from the competition is the unique designs. Each leg features a different but coordinating pattern. (So perfect for little style mavens in training!)

Little Miss Grippy was started by two childhood friends, Jessie Gifford & Christy Bergstrom. The idea for the line presented itself when Christy noticed that her daughter was constantly sliding on the hardwood floors in their home whenever she wore tights- and with that, the idea for Little Miss Grippy was born!

The tights are available in three sizes: Itty Bitty (6 to 12 months), Bitty (12 to 24 months) and Not-So Bitty (2 to 4 years.) Little Miss Grippy Tights can be found locally at Monster Art & Clothing in Ballard, Rising Stars in Phinney Ridge, Kids on 45th in Wallingford or online at www.littlemissgrippy.com.

*Giveaway*

Seattle Boutique Blogspot is giving away 2 pairs of Little Miss Grippy tights! Send an email to seattleboutiqueblogspot@gmail.com to win. The first two people to respond will win! Be sure to specify what size you'll need. Miss Grippy Tights come in three sizes: Itty Bitty (6 to 12 months), Bitty (12 to 24 months) and Not-So Bitty (2 to 4 years.)

Seattle’s sustainability community is marking May day (May 1st) by hosting the first ever Eco-Chic Expo, an interactive green lifestyle event that will showcase over 15 local companies including Theo’s Chocolate, Celebrate Green, Tread Light Gifts, NEST, A Greener Kitchen, Eat Your Yard, Satsuma Designs, thinknow jewelry and more. This free event aims to entertain and educate guests about how to lead a chic lifestyle and do it sustainably.

“We want to share with our community that a greener life can be easy, fun, and even fashionable,” says Tracy Anderson, Eco-Chic Co-founder and CEO of Tread Light Gifts. Among demonstrations and interactive how-tos, guests can learn how to make organic paper, mix up non-toxic, all natural cleaning products, enjoy natural spa treatments, design green interior spaces, fashion organic clothing and jewelry, and experience an Eco-Chic Expo exclusive, a Dante Inferno’s Eco-Dog! (Trust us, you'll want to see this!)

“At thinknow, we believe sustainability or 'being green' is not a single effort or one-time fashion statement. It’s a lifestyle, a community ethos and a plan for the world's future. The Eco-Chic Expo presents an excellent platform to participate in a premiere eco-community effort to inform and inspire a great local audience,” says Becky Ellis, exhibitor and eco-friendly jewelry designer.

Come see why Seattle is not just a great place to live but an optimal place to "Go Green" at the first-ever Eco-Chic Expo.

Seattle boutique The Finerie is in full swing for Spring and recently landed a fashion editorial spread in the April edition of Seattle Magazine! The photoshoot was all about bright colors and vibrant prints. Designers showcased in the spread included Abi Ferrin and Moods of Norway.

Meet Sydney

Sydney Mintle is a fashion blogger based in Seattle. She began writing about the local shopping scene back in 2008 and has been sharing her love of indie designers and boutiques with readers all over the world ever since.